If you are planning to carry out construction or repair work in an area of town which features protected buildings or culturally significant artefacts or landscapes, it is very important that you have a development plan in place which satisfies the local authorities. Below is a guide to two aspects of development planning which you should keep in mind when planning your work.

Any sites of historical, natural or indigenous importance

The Australian government maintains the National Heritage List which contains locations and buildings which have been judged to be of historic, natural or indigenous importance. A map showing the locations of these sites along with more details can be located by visiting the Department of Environment and Energy website.

If you are going to be carrying out construction work at a site listed on this website or you are planning to repair or modify a protected building, it is important that the work is sensitive to the local area and existing structures. For example, a plan to build a modern office block in the heart of a rural town of historic importance is unlikely to receive development approval. However, if you plan to build a modern building which stylistically blends in with the older buildings in the neighbourhood, it is much more likely that your development will be approved.

When carrying out repair work to existing buildings which are listed on the national heritage list, you may be required to use the same materials used during the original construction rather than modern materials such as concrete or glass. A development planner will be able to assist you in ensuring that your construction project is compliant with any heritage regulations.

The local eco-system

When planning your development, you will also need to ensure that it does not have an adverse impact on the local eco-system. For example, if you are constructing a tall, glass-plated building near an area which contains rare bird species, you drastically increase the chance that birds will fly into the glass by accident which will result in them being injured or killed. A development planner will be able to assess the local eco-system to ensure that your construction does not damage the environment.

If you are interested in finding out more about how a development planner can help your construction company to comply with any planning regulations, you should contact a planning service for further advice.